"In order to get into the non-existent record book — World Speed Sailing Association as well as Guiness and many others won't accept age-based records because of the risks — Abby had to start her circumnavigation at the wrong time or she would be too old. When you sail around the world, even the easy way, you do it by the seasons. That's even more important when going around the hard way. When the great maxi French mulithulls attempt around the world records, their window is always November to about March. Why? Because as Adrienne Cahalan, navigator on Playstation's record circumnavigation said, "You don't sail in the Southern Ocean in the winter." You just don't do it. Not the Volvo, not the Vendée, not The Race, not nobody. If the world's greatest sailors will wait a full year just to stay out of the Southern Ocean in winter — when there are gales 30% of the time as opposed to 5% of the time in summer — you'd think the parents of a 16-year-old minor would make their daughter do the same. But then more than a few parents have been blinded by the lure of the possibility of their child becoming famous."
Yep. Ego Gratification.
"She was given a great gift by her parents." ROFLMAO! What gift? The gift of a huge ego and all the money she might want to satisfy it? You're not only clueless, you're very deft at expressing your cluelessness.
The writer of this article, which is what we are discussing, it's his thread, was aghast at the fury unleashed upon this family. I also am ashamed of it. I have stated my reasons you have stated yours. I think your wrong.
“You're not only clueless, you're very deft at expressing your cluelessness”
Gee is that a compliment? Can't really be sure. Wait... Nope, not a compliment. Lots of keyboard shouting on your last post as you are straying into emotional investment in your very wrong conclusions.
I don't think that trying to break a record counts as egotistical self aggrandizement. I heard her interviewed and she said that while she wanted to break the record, just being there was good enough. But then again she is probably a diabolical lying egotistical POS. What do I know?
So good day to you. I have had about as much of anonymous Internet board posting as I can stand for one day.
Why does anyone enter a race around the world, even if it is a race against your own age? I recall several circumnavigating races that required rescue of one or more participants. Look at the results of the last decade of Vendee Globe races:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vend%C3%A9e_Globe
What is complaint? That she is too young? She logged more offshore miles that a lot of sailors. Plenty of these racing sailors get dismasted and have to be rescued. She was about 230nm from Ile Amsterdam, she probably could have motored there in a pinch or rigged a jury mast.